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With indie rock titans LCD Soundsystem behind him, James Murphy's taking his talents to another industry that requires exacting production.
"I make a lot of coffee," the musician told New York Magazine after the Sundance premiere of his concert documentary, "Shut Up and Play the Hits." "For my birthday, my girlfriend got me a training course with the world champion. That's what I'm going to do when I get back to London."
With his skills sharpened up, he plans to meet with a New York roaster to "start tweaking beans and temperatures" for a commercial espresso blend.
"I thought it would be fun," he said. "I have beans that I like."
The fledging product will be offered at a single shop, though Murphy says he's "still in negotiations" about the details.
He won't be the first musician to enter the coffee world: folk musician Bonnie "Prince" Billy recently announced an organic coffee available through his record label, Drag City, while Chicago's Intelligentsia offers a Wilco-approved selection.
In the meantime, "Shut Up and Play the Hits" earned favorable reviews at the Salt Lake City film festival, with one writer calling it, "One of the most interesting and enjoyable musical documentary experiences in a long, long time."
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